Job Discussion Forums

MELEE · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:07 pm Post subject:

For reference, in the US, most of the people who make the "detective" level of police officer have degrees in either criminology, sociology, or pyschology.

If you put all the bacchiratos and technical high schools in with the prepas, and especially take the private prepas out of the picture, I don't think most of the students plan on going on to university, at least not in southern Mexico. Most just have parents who are smart enough to know that they shouldn't allow their kids to finish school at 14.

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:45 pm Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Phil_K · Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 2041 Location: A World of my Own

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:34 pm Post subject:

Another question that begs to be asked: Why does Mexico even need a military?

First of all, are any of you familiar with the size of the Mexican military? It has about 193,000 soldiers, sailors, and airmen on active duty according to: http://www.ciponline.org/facts/mx.htm#military
Wikipedia lists the number much higher at 620,400 including reserves: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Mexico#Size_and_Scope

The Navy has about 10 combat ships and a large number of patrol boats. The air force has 10 combat aircraft, all F-5 fighters. Also a large number of transport aircraft and helicopters. The army doesn't have any tanks per se, but it does have 120 French armored cars that have 90mm guns and ride on wheels not treads. A large number of armored personnel carriers that can be used in a combat support role as well.

Why the background info? Let's look at the equipment lists. Obviously Mexico isn't going to repel any major assaults with 10 fighter jets or 10 ships... It can suppress the people, quell uprisings, repress un-armed peasants or put-down striking students, workers or other demonstrators, all in a jiffy. It can also lend a hand to disaster relief (anyone remember hurricane Katrina? The Mexican army sent a relief unit complete with field kitchen and hospital to San Antonio TX and also sent 2 navy ships for SAR missions) and fight drug traffickers.

Several other Latin American countries such as Panama and Costa Rica have disbanded their armed forces and now they only have national police forces. The savings in the budget has been put to better use in areas such as health care and education (More ESL teachers!).

What external threats does Mexico face? The USA? Not likely. The US has enough problems as it is, without having to govern another 100 million people, not to mention the riots and civil unrest that would result from the large Mexican population inside the US. This scenario has about as much chance as the US invading Canada. Makes for a cheesy comedy movie plot, that's about it. Who else? Guatemala or Belize? Give me a break.

Why else does Mexico maintain a military? For a sense of history and national pride? That's a part of it. To provide jobs. And also because the military is seen as less corrupt than the police forces.

What do you think?

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:45 pm Post subject:

notamiss · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject:

MELEE · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject:

I live near a small military base, a couple of hundred personnel at most. Three personal carriors carrying about 20 soldiers each leave the base each morning as I drop my daughters off at their preschool (which is within sight of the base) They come back around 2pm about the time I pick them up, and I always wonder where they go every day???
Here in Oaxaca state my other experience with the military is highway check points, they check buses heading north for illegal immigrants. But it kind of seems like the money for that job could be shifted to INM...

One of my primos politicos who is a cop was offered a chance for continuing education, but he said at the end of the course the pay raise he'd recieve wasn't significant enough for him to justify doing all that extra work. (or maybe he doubted his ablitity to pass the course?)

geaaronson · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 948 Location: Mexico City

Professor Gringo

Yes, I believe the points that you made in your last missive were the most salient. And Phil K�s points are well taken as well.

As for the NCIS, I do know that there are extensive police files on all criminals kept here in Mexico City. I had a student several months back who had previously worked as a public lawyer working in the PD whose primary job responsibilities were to research the criminal cases of apprehended individuals brought before the judicial system. She had to retrieve the criminal records of those defendants and present them to the judge.

It was a position fraught with an incredible amount of anxiety as that particular department here in DF is extremely understaffed and she was putting in 60 hour plus work weeks. As she was a particularly ambitious, hardworking individual, she lasted 12 months at the job, far outstripping her colleagues who succumbed to fatigue within 4 months, on the average, and would quit.